Machel Montano’s HD dancers

And so it is with the six young people who are pursuing their dream of dancing on stages all over the world as Machel Montano’s HD dancers.

Sunday Newsday sat down with them recently to talk about their experiences and to find out how it has been working with the “Ambassador of Soca”.

Jade Campbell, 25, grew up in Malick, Barataria and started dancing when she was just three years old. “I was a part of the Caribbean School of Dance doing ballet but I got bored of that,” she said with a laugh. She eventually branched out to dancehall and hip-hop.

When asked how has it been working with Machel, Jade described it as “energetic”.

“We are just always pumping energy, I love it,” she said.

Working with the band she has gotten the opportunity to travel and meet some of her favourite artists. “We went to Los Angeles for a show and when I turned around I saw Snoop Dogg, that was so overwhelming. The first thing I said was oh my God, Snoop is right in front of us, I still cannot forget that,” she said.

Campbell who considers dancing her passion said Montano’s “different kind” of drive gives her energy. “That energy he sends out uplifts me, he encourages me all the time and keeps me on the right track. He is such an inspiration to me, he is like my daddy,” she said.

Campbell has had full support from her family from the day she started dancing in front of the mirror. “My granny also used to say ‘she have to be a dancer’ because I was always dancing. My daddy always said to me live your life, be you and do you,” she said.

She revealed when her mother realised that dancing was going to be her career her mother took a little while to accept it. “She definitely came around and my whole family is behind me,” she said.

Twenty-five-year-old Daniel “Pablo” Phillip loves to entertain. “Anywhere I go, I would entertain,” he said.

When the dancehall craze ‘Passa Passa’ hit Trinidad, Phillip and a group of friends decided to make it bigger. “We formed Trini Alliance and we are the best dance crew in Trinidad right now,” he said.

Working with Machel he has learnt to be versatile with his dancing. “Dancehall is very different to Soca but with the group we learn a little of everything,” he said. “Machel has the vibe, he is one of the best in the game, he pushes us to put out our best,” he said.

Philip spoke highly of his mother who supports him through everything he does. “Once I am doing something positive my mother is always supportive. When she knows I am happy, she is happy,” he said. “My mother is somebody I look up to the most in my life because she is honest, cool and calm and I admire that a lot,” he added.

Jillia Cato started dancing when she was eight years old. “I did ballet for a couple of months, ventured into aerobics until I picked up on hip-hop dancing. I even competed abroad dancing hip- hop,” she said.

Cato, who lives in Arima, dances with the dance company Elle Incorporated. “I have really broadened my horizons there, I learn every type of dance,” she said.

She considers being with Machel Montano HD as a learning experience. “We were in Canada for a performance and during sound check Machel, being an engineer would hear every little thing, he is so precise and I look up to him so much because I am currently studying engineering at the University of Trinidad and Tobago and I aspire to be as good as him,” she said.

Brithany Dookie is the youngest girl in the group. The St James resident believes she is following in her mother’s footsteps in life. “My mother was a model, a dancer and I guess it is in my genes to follow suit,” she said.

As a child, Dookie started off in gymnastics and cheerleading but her first love was always dancing. “Anytime a mirror is around, I am dancing, sometimes my mom gets fed up of me,” she said.

For Dookie, being with Machel has taught her a lot. “I have met such talented people and have learnt so much from them, it has really made me a better dancer,” she said.

One person Dookie admires in life, is author Wahida Clarke. “I really admire her after I read her biography, she was framed, sent to jail and she has grown from that and written a lot of books,” she said.

The youngest male in the group is 19-year-old Klase Gonzales who is very multi-talented. Gonzales is the son of Karla Gonzales, well known, actress, choreographer and singer.

“I have always been around music and entertainment. Since I could walk and talk I have been in entertainment, I was a part of the Liliput Theatre at Queen’s Hall, did shows with 3Canal. I can do almost everything when it comes to entertainment, I can dance, sing and produce music,” he said.

Gonzales just returned home after dancing with the band at Madison Square Gardens in New York and Six Flags in New Jersey.

“I was the only male dancer and touring with them is such a great experience and I am very grateful for the opportunity,” he said.

He admitted that he rarely gets sleep but he loves what he does and he is going to continue.

“I have so many plans when it comes to entertainment, I plan to produce the Jamaican group, Meritol’s entire summer album this year. As for the future I want to pursue business studies so I could have the first ever entertainment studio in Trinidad,” he said.

La Shaun Prescott is the one everyone looks up too. The 28-year-old is the choreographer for the group, a business woman and an industry specialist at the Ministry of Trade. Prescott started dancing with Carol La Chappelle at the age of 13.

“I started dancing to get more grace in my gymnastics and I just stuck with dancing after that,” she said.

Last May Prescott and few friends opened a dance company called Elle Incorporated. “It offers dance classes in all types of dance, modern, dance hall, hip-hop, Latin and we have some great people working with us such as Andy Josiah, Deon Baptiste and Delton Frank,” she said.

She said it has been quite an interesting experience working with Machel because he is such a perfectionist. “He is so creative and innovative on stage. The hours are challenging but I work with an amazing team and I am very honoured to be a part of it,” she said.